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Relationships of dead wood patterns with biophysical characteristics and ownership according to scale in Coastal Oregon, USA

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Abstract

Dead wood patterns and dynamics vary with biophysical factors, disturbance history, ownership, and management practices; the relative importance of these factors is poorly understood, especially at landscape to regional scales. This study examined current dead wood amounts in the Coastal Province of Oregon, USA, at multiple spatial scales. Objectives were to: (1) describe current regional amounts of several characteristics of dead wood; (2) compare dead wood amounts across ownerships; (3) determine the relative importance, according to spatial scale, of biophysical and ownership characteristics, to regional dead wood abundance. Dead wood plot data were evaluated with respect to explanatory variables at four spatial scales of resolution: plots, subwatersheds, watersheds and subbasins. The relationships of dead wood characteristics with biophysical attributes and ownership were diverse and scale-specific. Region-wide dead wood abundance and types varied among ownerships, with public lands typically having higher amounts of dead wood and more large dead wood than private lands. Regression analysis of total dead wood volume indicated that ownership was important at the subbasin scale. Growing season moisture stress was important at plot, subwatershed, and watershed scales. Topography was important at the two coarser scales. Multivariate analysis of dead wood gradients showed that ownership was important at all scales, topography at the subbasin scale, historical vegetation at watershed and subbasin scales, and current vegetation at plot and subwatershed scales. Management for dead wood and related biodiversity at watershed to landscape scales should consider the distinct dynamics of snags and logs, the importance of historical effects, and the relevance of ownership patterns.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Lisa Ganio for statistical consulting advice, Janet Ohmann and Michael Wimberly for valuable discussions, and Mark Harmon, Julia Jones, and John Hayes for comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forestry Sciences Laboratory, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Rebecca S. H. Kennedy & Thomas A. Spies

  2. Department of Forest Science, Oregon State University, 321 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Matthew J. Gregory

Authors
  1. Rebecca S. H. Kennedy
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  2. Thomas A. Spies
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  3. Matthew J. Gregory
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca S. H. Kennedy.

Appendix A

Appendix A

Weighted mean amount ha−1 and standard error (s.e.) of attributes of dead wood in coastal Oregon and by public and private ownership classes, using plot-scale data. Snag size is dbh, log is led; volume units is m3

Variable

Coastal Province (n = 930)

All Public (n = 511)

All Private (n = 419)

Mean(s.e.)

Mean(s.e.)

Mean(s.e.)

Total dead wood volume >12.5 cm

186.5(6.4)

249.6(10.4)

140.2(7.0)

Total dead wood volume >50.0 cm

132.8(5.8)

188.9(9.8)

91.7(6.0)

Snags

Number of snags >12.5 cm

34.1(2.0)

43.8(2.7)

26.9(3.0)

Number of snags >50 cm

4.7(0.3)

7.9(0.5)

2.3(0.2)

Number of snags >50 cm and >15 m tall

0.6(0.1)

1.2(0.1)

0.2(0.1)

Volume of snags >12.5 cm

26.3(1.7)

44.3(3.0)

13.0(1.5)

Volume of snags >50 cm

19.6(1.6)

35.5(2.9)

8.0(1.3)

Volume of snags 12.5–25.0 cm

2.6(0.2)

3.2(0.3)

2.2(0.3)

Volume of snags 25.0–50.0 cm

4.0(0.3)

5.7(0.5)

2.8(0.4)

Volume of snags 50.0–75.0 cm

3.0(0.3)

5.4(0.5)

1.2(0.2)

Volume of snags 75.0–100.0 cm

4.2(0.4)

7.3(0.7)

2.0(0.4)

Volume of snags >100.0 cm

12.4(1.3)

22.8(2.4)

4.8(1.0)

Snag biomass (Mg)

7.4(0.5)

12.5(0.9)

3.7(0.5)

Snag carbon (Mg C)

3.9(0.3)

6.5(0.5)

1.9(0.2)

Number of legacy snags >12.5 cm

1.4(0.1)

1.9(0.2)

1.0(0.1)

Volume of legacy snags >12.5 cm

7.1(0.8)

10.0(1.3)

5.1(1.0)

% of all snags >12.5 cm, legacy

19.9(1.4)

22.0(2.2)

18.3(1.8)

Logs

Volume of logs >12.5 cm

160.2(5.7)

205.2(9.2)

127.2(6.5)

Volume of logs >25 cm

149.0(5.6)

194.8(9.1)

115.3(6.3)

Volume of logs >50 cm

113.2(5.1)

153.4(8.5)

83.7(5.6)

Volume of logs 12.5–25.0 cm

11.3(0.4)

10.4(0.6)

11.8(0.5)

Volume of logs 25.0–50.0 cm

35.8(1.1)

41.4(1.7)

31.6(1.4)

Volume of logs 50.0–75.0 cm

40.1(1.7)

49.1(2.7)

33.5(2.2)

Volume of logs 75.0–100.0 cm

34.2(2.1)

50.3(3.8)

22.4(2.0)

Volume of logs >100.0 cm

38.9(3.2)

54.0(5.5)

27.8(3.3)

Log biomass(Mg)

44.2(1.6)

54.4(2.4)

36.8(1.9)

Log carbon(Mg C)

23.0(0.8)

28.3(1.3)

19.1(1.0)

Volume of legacy logs >12.5 cm

55.2(3.3)

63.4(5.0)

49.2(4.3)

Legacy logs, % of all >12.5 cm logs

21.9(1.0)

20.2(1.3)

23.1(1.4)

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Kennedy, R.S.H., Spies, T.A. & Gregory, M.J. Relationships of dead wood patterns with biophysical characteristics and ownership according to scale in Coastal Oregon, USA. Landscape Ecol 23, 55–68 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-007-9164-9

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